As One Who Had Authority

As One Who Had Authority.  The only hope most of us have for seeming to be authoritative is to keep our mouths shut. Biting our lips could become a full-time job! “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent” (Prov. 17:28). But, to their own demise, the scribes in Jesus’ day did not follow their predecessors’ sage advice.

In all fairness, the scribes might have been able to fool most people most of the time regarding their status as expert teachers. But when Jesus opened his mouth, all their papier-mâché authority dissolved, exposing only their folly. One day with Jesus, or even one parable, and ripples were set into motion that the Pharisees and the Sadducees could not withstand.

Despite what they piously professed, holding favorable public opinion was the god before which the scribes bowed. Still, they could never fully achieve an honorable reputation in society without stacking the deck in their favor. However, upon his first word spoken, Jesus effortlessly attained what they wanted most. “And [the people] were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22).

Their jealousy of Jesus was murderously fierce though ultimately futile. Yet Jesus’ reputation, while it enraged the scribes, held no sway over him. He spilled it and moved on to teach others. “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’ And he said to them, ‘Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out’” (Mark 1:35-38).

One of Messiah’s foretold hallmarks was his authoritative teaching. “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him” (Deut. 18:18). “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher” (Isa. 30:20). “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children” (Isa. 54:13).

Therefore, it was no accident that the first public action Jesus did after his baptism was to teach authoritatively. “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people” (Matt. 4:23). Furthermore, it was no accident that the last public action Jesus did after his resurrection was to commission his newly authorized teachers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20). We learn that Jesus is God’s Son by his teaching!